ONE would expect JD Cagulangan to shoulder much of the load in this UAAP Season 87 campaign with this being his final playing year for the University of the Philippines.
And maybe to an extent, that’s probably true.
His first game – a near-triple-double performance against Ateneo on Saturday where he posted 17 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds – may underscore that added responsibility for the shifty 5-foot-9 guard.
But he made it clear that there’s really nothing weighing him down even as the Fighting Maroons shoot for the championship after two bridesmaid finishes in the past two seasons.
“Sa akin since this is my last season in UP, gusto ko lang siyang sulitin. Yung experience at opportunity na binigay sa amin, lahat gusto ko lang masulit,” he said.
Cagulangan very well knows how hard it is to climb up the UAAP pinnacle, all the more with the heightened expectations for this star-studded UP side.
But just like how coach Goldwin Monteverde has preached to them, nothing great comes in an instant.
“Sana makuha namin yung championship,” Cagulangan wished. “I know na mahirap every game, but yung process is ine-enjoy ko lang. Walang pressure, gusto ko lang mag-enjoy at laging ibigay yung 100-percent ko.”
This opener versus the Blue Eagles was a perfect example to that.
Dealt with adversity given the tough defense thrown by Ateneo in the first two frames, Cagulangan and co. responded with a superb second half, holding off the opposition’s numerous rallies and pulling away late.
“Although hirap kami sa first half, but ang magandang nangyari is nag-respond kami which is lagi naming pinag-uusapan as a team. Good thing na nangyari siya sa first game pa lang,” he said.
Most of those started with Cagulangan, and it’s a given with him being the team’s primary playmaker. But he stressed that it really could be anyone and it’s just that today was his day.
“Sabi nga ni Q (Millora-Brown), kung para kanino man yung araw na ito, we’re just happy para sa kanya,” he said. “Kung ano yung role ko, yun lang yung lalaruin ko. Yung role ko naman is to facilitate so hindi ko tatanggalin yun para ma-set up ko sila ng maayos.”
“Ang gusto lang naman naming lahat is manalo, so kung sino man yung may stats na ganyan, happy kami para sa kanya.”
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